Note: Looking for AI War: Fleet Command? That is completely different game!Visit Arcen Games to learn more about it!

IF you like AI Wars, Check out this project!

A unique challenge awaits you!

A.I. Wars is a game designed for people who
receive satisfaction from building something. In this case, you design and build
the Artificial Intelligence of a war machine called a Cybug. The A.I. of this
virtual cybernetic insect is the center of the game. The challenge that every
player of this game faces, is in their ability to design a winning logical
strategy for their Cybug to follow, while prudently managing its resources and
system limitations.

Every Cybug comes with a complement of
ammunition for many weapons (guns, missiles, grenades and energy discharges)
that can be either offensive or defensive, along with fuel that you must
properly ration to ensure your Cybugs survival in battle simulations. Cybugs
have shields that offer some protection but they generate heat that can cause a
Cybug to shutdown if left up for too long. Itís up to you to tackle and
master these possibilities and to create a Cybug that can win on the
battlefield.

A.I. Wars offers many battlefield simulations
to choose from along with a way to create your own. Many battle simulation
options are available giving you the chance to dream up thousands of possible
scenarios for you to master. Cybugs can be configured to be Hive (Team) Leaders
which can share logic and information with other Cybugs, They can be designated
as Queen Cybugs making them valuable targets for your opponent! With add-on
packages like the BattleShell, Cybugs can compete for land on a global map!
Cybugs can link up and pass resources and program code to one another, to help
out team mates who are low on ammunition or fuel, or to pass a code virus on to
their opponents!

If you are interested in programming in an
integrated development environment specifically designed for this game and enjoy
the satisfaction of creating something thatís more than the sum of its parts,
then this game is for you. Get ready to sink your teeth into something that can
enthrall and consume your every waking moment! Dream big, experiment often,
tinker to your hearts content, and then, when you are ready, unleash your
creations in to the world and enjoy the excitement of learning of your creations
exploits in tournaments and contests held between others like you.

A.I. Wars is a game of games, not for the
timid, not for those who like action over strategy, not for those who want to
jump and shoot their way though a game, itís a game for people like you, gamers
who want to use their mind, creativity and imagination!

A story of our future...

The risks of warfare will be bloodless ones! Our willingness to commit troops will be a simple matter of economy and production. Militaries worldwide are developing automated intelligent fighting machines. These machines will be much harder to stop than the typical human soldier and will be able to react and move with speeds and agility that will be impossible for its human opponents to match or mimic. For example, we'll see aircraft that can travel and turn so fast they'll generate G-forces that would liquefy its pilot (if it had one.) These machines are not science fiction, and are currently in development today. They have no fear, and will show no mercy...

Tactical Neuronics has introduced its new line of automated all terrain six legged fighting machines code named: Cybugs.

Original blueprint CB-081199-BP17

You are now the proud owner of A.I. Wars (The Insect Mind) (Cybug battle simulation software). This simulator allows potential Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) programmers to perfect the strategies necessary to take our Cybug A.I. to a level that could adaptively compete on the modern battlefield.

The Cybug is a programmable mobile platform, with six legs that have been incorporated for stability on multiple terrain types, the original two and four legged designs proved too unstable to withstand the blast forces from explosions on or near its center of balance. The Cybug is an all weather assault platform that is loaded with an internally concealed missile and grenade launching system and an external projectile weapon located in the center of its fluid cooled Cybrain appendage (head). The Cybug caries an internal power source that uses a crystalline fuel converter to power its engines and internal electronics. This power system also runs a cooling system that can help keep the Cybug cooled but it can be overheated if items like the shield generator run for an extended period of time. This power system can be discharged through the shielded armor shell of the Cybug, but this discharge will also slightly damage this shell as well (note: This discharge can be set high enough to self destruct the Cybug if the need arises). Its CPU runs single commands transmitted from a remote Battle Simulation Coordination Processor (BSCP). The BSCP negotiates commands in packets that are weighted based on their resource consumption. Movement commands are considered heavier than scan commands and logic commands are simple and can be utilized in larger quantities. The internal power source can convert Ammilian alloy (an explosive metallic substance) into usable ammunition. The Ammilian converter can produce simple projectiles easily but requires more alloy to create items like mines, grenades and missiles. Grenades and missiles also utilize fuel to propel them to their targets. The Cybugs can gather resources (fuel and ammo) while on the battlefield by collecting flagged replenishment packs. Cybugs can also transfer resources to each other by connecting their resource ports located in the rear or the Cybug. There is also a data port that has a communications link where commands can be inserted manually into the Cybugs CPU for maintenance reasons (Warning: our engineers fear that this port may be a security risk if enemy Cybugs can gain access it.)

Cybug squads (Hive formations) are possible since each unit can transmit an IFF code. This code identifies a Cybugs secret team name, multiple Cybugs with the same code are on the same team, and can identify each other as friendly units to avoid accidental friendly fire damage. Cybugs that have the same IFF codes can transmit data to each other using the hive variables on the BSCP. All Cybugs have access to the global BSCP systems system variables that are considered common knowledge among all Cybugs in a simulation.

Goal orientation can be utilized in a simulation via the use of Queen Cybugs and the Strategy Node. The BSCP can be set to terminate the battle when a Queen is killed, typically awarding the killer with a large number of points. The strategy node can be used as a refueling and ammo depot as well as its ability to grant award points to any Cybug occupying it for a predetermined amount of time.

Your goal as a Cybug A.I. developer is to develop competent Cybug reflexes, plus offensive and defensive strategies to ensure the survival of your Cybug or your team of Cybugs in a battle simulation. You will be able to develop their A.I. using the Cybug A.I. Command Language (CAICL) provided. The A.I. editor comes complete with a description of each command, as well as code verification and debugging tools. Cybug A.I. files can be encrypted and password protected for transport outside of the BSCP.

This game forces your logic skills to the limit and it's a neat way to develop programming skills even for people who've never programmed before!

A.I. Wars comes with its own integrated
A.I. language development environment and several battle arena's and a map editor for limitless battle possibilities! I hope your unit is smart enough to navigate it's way around almost any possibility!

The A.I. Wars Site License exists
for educational groups or schools who want to conduct a tournament or use A.I. Wars
as part of their curriculum. The license grants the
right to install A.I. Wars on any PC in your organization and to distribute it
in any format you wish to your students. You are also granted rights to print unlimited copies of the user guide.

You can also purchase pre-printed copies for a minimal cost from the user guide
page.

Great for educators who want their students to experience
programming at any level. The included Graphical Programming Interface allows kids (or those new to programming)
to program their Cybugs by stringing Icons together, and then allows them to see it in action with a click of
the 'Test' button.

For those who are more advanced, they can use the 'Source' button to see how it would look
in actual CAICL code and, when ready, they can step-up and use the text based CAICL editor to program their
Cybugs using the actual CAICL language. Note that CAICL was designed to have simple commands for beginners and
allows for more advanced programming techniques as players grow more proficient.

The true strength in its CAICL
language is its ability to allow your programs to build commands in memory and run them while the program is executing! Creative Cybug authors make Cybugs adaptive to their actual situation by using this technique!

Player Feedback

I downloaded this yesterday as I was
snowed in and I can't think of a better way to spend 5 hours.
This game is really good. It reminded me of the old Origin game
OMEGA or that Microprose robot game. I had my first program
written within 15 minutes of printing the language docs, and
defeated my first opponent within an hour. Very very cool game. I
plan on putting up a site on my club's web page to support it
with designs we come up with.

About the game, as I've experienced it
so far: Language is easy with a couple of quirks to watch out
for. The combat options are to either shoot the main gun (range,
5 grid points), launch the missile (no range limitation, but slow
and expensive in terms of resources), or zap your local vicinity.
All robots are the same, so there aren't the hull/weapons/gadgets
mods you could do in a game like OMEGA, which in my mind is fine
because its a battle of wits when all other things are equal.

You can also text-encode (even password
protect) your designs and send them via email or post them on
your web site. This alone I think will help make this game very
popular.

A lot of people aren't up to the
challenge of writing code and then sitting back waiting to see
how their robot fairs, so I have doubts this will become as
widespread as say DOOM, but it has all of the elements to become
the most popular Program-Your-Own-Robot game out there. More so
than C-Robots and Bolo IMHO.

"Smart Bugs Never Die" is the
motto of one of the most exciting games this geek has seen since
the Castle Smurfenstein hack of the the early 80's. When I say
"exciting" I don't mean "Quake-type
exciting", I mean "this-could-be-important
exciting." The game, entitled "AI Wars: The Insect
Mind" involves programming, play testing, and strategy. As a
basic programming tool, or foray into artificial intelligence,
this game has intellectual exercise written all over it.

Your task is simple, yet compelling.
Develop an insect using the included AI language such that your
insect will survive. Sounds simple, eh? Only if you do it wrong.
My first instinct was do develop a simple set of instructions
with absolutely no intelligence but lots of strategy. When I
pitted it one on one in an open field against other insects it
did quite well. However, when placed in on of the many included
terrains it faired worse. When pitted it against the included
missions (multiple opponents on increasingly challenging
terrains), it got the crap blown out of it. Oh yes, this game has
action in the form of mines, missiles, blasts, and energy
discharges. A self-destruct mechanism is included as well for the
Pyrric-minded among us. Soon I began to develop intelligent
insects and the result, which I call Predator, will soon be ready
for prime time.

I contacted the author John Reder about
setting up some tournaments (be sure to read in the docs about
Tournament Mode) and he was kind enough to inform me that my
version 1.1 was out of date and a version 2 release is in the
works. You'll see it here soon in our new section, Insect
Central. In the meantime, check out John's
homepage at (old site location deleted) for more
information and links to download sites.

-J. Scott Bushey
Editor, American Computing Magazine
"Love your game AI Wars... I have
recently downloaded your game and am getting really attached
to it" Marty Lawson
"Just wanted to tell you how much
I've enjoyed AI Wars. I've been waiting for a game that
requires brains instead of fast "twitch" reflexes.
Hope that the game spreads fast; the more bug developers, the
better." Bheckel
"I, for one, never heard of the
game before being asked to review it -- and it's a shame; I
seldom see games this challenging these days!" Dan
Gemmer. Reviewer, The Games Domain (TGD)
"Just want to say that the game is
great! I think that u have hit something big here... Then
again to a computer science student like me this is a gold
mine!!" ZWANG888
"kudos for AI Wars it is
excellent... overall the program is really really good..
Again, kudos, ai wars rocks" Ashley Rolleston
"My name is Vladimir and I am
computer sciences student from Belgrade, Yugoslavia. I
downloaded AI wars yesterday, and boy, I was _thrilled_. I've
been waiting for something like this for ages. And it has
always been my dream to make something like this but never
had neither nerves nor the time to devote my self to it. I
congratulate you for a job well done." Vladimir.
"I downloaded a copy of AI War a
few days ago - I think it is brilliant - ...My first bug is
having a ball, though a couple of the scenarios are
impossible for him to win. Never mind. Once again, great
game." James Marshall (UK)
"Just wanted to quickly say that
your A.I. Wars game friggin' rules! I'm having a blast!
*sigh* I'm still learning to program ;)" Richard Kee
"Thank You, I really enjoy your
game." Tony Dwyer
"I downloaded a copy of Ai Wars
and I think it's ace." Marc Williams
"I have just downloaded AI Wars
and registered it ... :) It is the most excellent piece of
software I have ever seen ! ... even the shareware version is
quite playable....good marketing move...get 'em hooked then
they HAVE to buy the registered version." Brian Wiren
"I have been up for three days
playing AI Wars and will absolutely register as soon as I
return to the US from India. Thanks for putting it
together!" Toryalai Hart
"GREAT game!!" Jordan Ellis
"Excellent work you do. Very
entertaining." Ray Hawk
"Hi , I'm from Malaysia. I
downloaded AI Wars some time ago and found it to be very
interesting...Good Work !" Perry Loh
"I really like your excellent
AI-wars game, jou've got me addicted! :)" Sander
"Fredman" Hollebrand
"As a student of Computer Science
I was very interested in the AI-Language you used for
AI-Wars. I think that it is a quite good language,..."
Frank Karl
"Since a few days I am having very
much fun with AIwars!" Cor Smal (Amsterdam Netherlands)
"I recently downloaded AI Wars and
found myself up until 3:00 this morning with my roommate in
an arms race. I like it very much. Would you be able to
compile an a version that also runs under NT?" ... Good
luck, you've obviously made a fan out of me! Expect to see my
registration, and Bob Hadley's, my roommate, in the mail
soon! Oh, I will be putting my robots up on my club's web
page. We hopefully will be offering a tournament. I'll be
mentioning the game at our convention this month to see if
the other wargaming clubs have any hackers in their
midst." ... Later... ... "Oh, by they way, THANK
YOU! The fix works great. My Pentium Pro 150 really shames my
Pentium 90 at home. The game is great. Can't wait to get the
registration key. I'll have the BattleGroup Boston AIWars
site up early next week (maybe this weekend if I have time).
The address will be
http://lynx.neu.edu/home/httpd/b/bgb/aiwars.htm. The BGB site
home page can be reached at:
http://lynx.neu.edu/home/httpd/b/bgb/ Well, again thanks for
the fastest response I've ever seen in software
development."
Pete Mancini, BattleGroup Boston, VP
"I am very interested in this
game. I enjoy programming and always thought I would like to
write a game where you program the characters instead of just
control them with a joystick or mouse." James L. Strunk
"I recently downloaded AI Wars
from Cnet.com and was very impressed. At this very moment, my
first insect, which I call "Spinner" is battling through
Mission #3 (oops, I just realized I haven't registered it
yet)." J. Scott Bushey, Editor of American
Computing Magazine
"Today I just found AI Wars from
ZDNet! WOW! This program is great! As a programmer, I am very
interested in Artificial Intelligence, and upon seeing the
description, I immediately downloaded it!" Greg Cormier